ESCCAP The Mews Studio, Portland Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 2TA First Published by ESCCAP 2012 © ESCCAP 2012 All rights reserved This publication is made available subject to the condition that any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise is with the prior written permission of ESCCAP. This publication may only be distributed in the covers in which it is first published unless with the prior written permission of ESCCAP. A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. ISBN: 978-1-907259-33-3 ESCCAP Guideline 3 Control of Ectoparasites in Dogs and Cats Published: June 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................4 SCOPE..............................................................................................................................................................5 PRESENT SITUATION AND EMERGING THREATS ......................................................................................5 BIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL OF ECTOPARASITES ...................................................................6 1. Fleas.............................................................................................................................................................6 2. Ticks ...........................................................................................................................................................10 3. Sucking and Chewing Lice.......................................................................................................................17 4. Phlebotomes/Sand Flies...........................................................................................................................19 5. Mosquitoes (Culicidae).............................................................................................................................19 6. Demodectic Mange Mites .........................................................................................................................19 7. Sarcoptic Mange Mites .............................................................................................................................22 8. Notoedric Mange Mites.............................................................................................................................24 9. Otodectic Mange Mites.............................................................................................................................25 10. Fur Mites ..................................................................................................................................................25 11. Harvest Mites (Chigger Mites)................................................................................................................26 12. Canine Nasal Mites .................................................................................................................................28 IMPACT OF PET HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS ..............................................................................28 RESISTANCE .................................................................................................................................................29 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF ECTOPARASITES .................................................................................29 OWNER CONSIDERATIONS IN PREVENTING ZOONOTIC DISEASES.....................................................29 STAFF, PET OWNER AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ...............................................................................30 2 TABLE Table 1: Overview of parasitic arthropods....................................................................................................4 Table 2: Flea control - different scenarios....................................................................................................9 Table 3: Tick species found on dogs and cats in Europe .........................................................................10 Table 4: Overview of tick-transmitted pathogens causing tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in Europe.......11 Table 5: Tick control - different scenarios ..................................................................................................17 Table 6: Sucking and chewing lice on dogs and cats in Europe..............................................................18 Table 7: Mites of dogs and cats of veterinary medical importance in Europe........................................19 FIGURE Figure 1: Life cycle of Ctenocephalides felis ...............................................................................................6 Figure 2a: Rhipicephalus sanguineus ........................................................................................................13 Figure 2b: Dermacentor reticulatus ............................................................................................................14 Figure 3: Life cycle of Ixodes ricinus..........................................................................................................15 APPENDIX Appendix 1 Glossary ....................................................................................................................................31 Appendix 2 Background...............................................................................................................................32 3 Control of Ectoparasites in Dogs and Cats INTRODUCTION External or ectoparasites include a wide range of parasitic arthropods, which belong taxonomically to the sub-class Acari (ticks and mites) and to the class Insecta (fleas, chewing and sucking lice, mosquitoes, flies and phlebotomes (sand flies)) (Table 1). External parasites are important because: • They may cause cutaneous lesions • They can induce immunopathological responses • They can transmit pathogens • They may be zoonotic or transmit zoonotic infections • They may interfere with the human – animal bond • Their control is part of maintaining healthy pets Table 1: Overview of parasitic arthropods Arthropod Arthropod related Major pathogenic agents transmitted infestation/disease (corresponding diseases) Fleas Flea infestation and Dipylidium caninum (dipylidiosis), Bartonella sometimes flea allergy henselae (cat scratch disease = bartonellosis), dermatitis (FAD) Bartonella vinsonii, Rickettsia felis, Acanthocheilonema reconditum Chewing and sucking lice Louse infestation Dipylidium caninum, A. reconditum Dipteran fly larvae (maggots) Myiasis Phlebotomes (sand flies) Phlebotome (sand fly) Leishmania infantum (leishmaniosis) infestation L. infantum is the major species in Europe Mosquitoes (Culex spp., Aedes Mosquito infestation Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens (dirofilariosis), spp. and Anopheles spp.) Acanthocheilonema [Dipetalonema] spp. (filariosis) Flies (secretophagous and Fly infestation, myiasis Thelazia spp. (ocular filariosis = thelaziosis) biting flies) Ticks (Rhipicephalus Tick infestation Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni, Babesia [Theileria] sanguineus, Ixodes spp., annae (piroplasmosis, babesiosis), Cercopithifilaria Dermacentor spp., Hyalomma spp., Hepatozoon spp. (hepatozoonosis), Ehrlichia spp., Haemaphysalis spp. and canis, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, others) Anaplasma platys (ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis), Rickettsia spp. (rickettsiosis), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (Lyme disease = borreliosis), Flaviviruses (e.g. tickborne encephalitis, louping ill), Acanthocheilonema [Dipetalonema] dracunculoides Cheyletiella yasguri (in dogs) Cheyletiellosis - none described and Cheyletiella blakei (in cats) Otodectes cynotis Otoacarosis - none described Neotrombicula (Trombicula) Trombiculosis - none described autumnalis, Straelensia cynotis Sarcoptes scabiei Sarcoptic mange - none described Notoedres cati Notoedric mange - none described Demodex canis, D. cati, Demodicosis - none described D. inja, D. gatoi, D. spp. 4 In addition, the following factors have clinical implications: • Cutaneous lesions may lead to secondary bacterial or fungal (Malassezia spp.) infections and various kinds of dermatitis • The immune response induced, especially by ectoparasite saliva, may lead to allergic reactions with flea allergic dermatitis being the most important • Transmitted pathogens may cause diseases, the so called vector-borne diseases (VBDs), that are, in many cases, of more clinical relevance than the actual ectoparasite infestation itself • Ectoparasite-infested pets may be a source for infestation of the pets’ owners which can be a serious nuisance (e.g. fleas) • The direct health implications of ectoparasite infestation can be more than skin deep: e.g. heavy blood-sucking arthropods can cause anaemia SCOPE Since many ectoparasites may act as vectors of various important companion animal diseases it is the aim of ESCCAP to produce a guideline which delivers comprehensive information and support to assist both veterinarians and pet owners to successfully control ectoparasite infection and prevent disease transmission to their pets. This guideline concentrates on the most important groups of ectoparasites namely fleas, ticks, lice (which taxonomically consist of two different groups, the sucking lice and the chewing lice) and mites. Other ectoparasites such as phlebotomes (sand flies) and mosquitoes are mainly of importance